Liver cancer

poppymak · New User Joined: 08 Feb 2008 Posts: 2

hi can anyone help me

my sister has been diagnosed with liver cancer she is only 29 years old. she only recovered from breast cancer in november.

she has been told that most of her liver is affected and will need a blood transfusion next week and then chemotherapy. if that doesnt work then there is not much hope. can someone help me understand all this.

why cant doctors give her a liver transplant? she has a baby who isnt even one years old.

plaese help

Vee Smith · Moderator Joined: 12 Feb 2006 Posts: 557 Location: UK

Hi, Poppy. Your sister's liver cancer is a secondary cancer - a development in her liver of the breast cancer, from cells that have migrated. Unfortunately, metastases of this kind implies that the cancer is moving round the organism and in these circumstances a liver transplant is generally not regarded as a suitable method of treatment.

Apart from anything else, transplants carry their own dangers and need aggressive handling.

However, there are many good methods of handling metastatic cancers and I hope that she responds well to them.

brainman · Posted: Fri Feb 08, 2008 7:07 am Post subject: Re: Liver cancer

Hi poppymak. I am very sorry about your sisters cancer. As Vee said about her sister, liver cancer after breast cancer is most often breast cancer that has metastasized to the liver. Do you know if that is the case for your sister. To primary cancers a quite rare although not unheard of. It does make a difference in her chemotherapy options but not to much diffenrence in other options or in her prognosis.

Your sister is in my thoughts and prayers.
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Queensland Girl · Regular Joined: 17 Oct 2007 Posts: 25 Location: Australia

Hi Poppy,

Unfortunately in your sister's case with a pre-existing cancer history, transplantation is not a option as mentioned in other replies.

Hopefully, though, the doctors will be able to help her fight this battle, and with a young baby and a supportive family she has so much to fight for.

Please be strong for her as she will need all the help she can get, and if she can focus on her health and not worry about the little things, that will help also.

Eventually you sister will have to make some difficult decisions (and I hope that will be a long way down the track!) Again, support her the best way you can.

And please don't forget about yourself. Talk to friends and family about how you feel, this disease is not fair, no-one is chosen because of things they have done or not done. It is normal to feel angry at the world so just remember to not bottle up you emotions either.

Please keep in touch with this forum, as everyone here is either fighting this horrible demon, or is part of someone elses fight with it. I personally have lost both my parents to this monster, so I know some of what you are feeling.

Take care and my thoughts are with you and your sister.

Queensland Girl

poppymak · New User Joined: 08 Feb 2008 Posts: 2

Hi Thankyou for your replies to my mesage.

My sister is doing really well, since she started her chemotherapy in February. first couple of weeks were really hard for all of us as she seemd to be going down hill. Doctors were not positive of what the outcome would be. BUT my sister has been doing really well in fighting the cancer. she has built up her strength and is more positive. The doctors are pleased with her progress so far so they are going to carry on givng her chemotherapy each week and will do a liver scan in couple of months to see what is happening. so far her blood tests for her liver function are coming back as normal, so that is a good sign. also ahe has built up a good appetite, gets tired easily but is being very positive.
I just hope and pray that the news will be good and give my sister boost that she needs to carry on fighting this cancer.

will keep you posted and thank you again!

xx

nikarphar · New User Joined: 16 Apr 2008 Posts: 2

so sorry to hear this
cancers can be so painful ! .My Grandpa just passed away from mesothelioma trying to come to terms with it Crying or Very sad

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